Solar heater



March19, 1929. E. B. MAXWE L SOLAR HEATER Fii y 192 5 2 Sheets-Sheet l SOLAR HEATER Filed July ,9, 1925 2 sheetsfisheet 2 rammed Mar. 19,1929.

UNITED STATES 1,705,988 PATENT OFFICEQ EMMETT B. MAXWELL, OF BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA.

SOLAR HEATER.

Application filed July 9,

tion or be thrown out of operation atany time. I

A further object of the invention is the production of a device of which may be very readily and cheaply manufactured, which will be durable and eflicient in service and a general improvement in the art. 4

The invention further resides in the details of construction, mounting and operation of the various parts hereinafter described and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, wherein p p Figure 1 is a side elevation showing apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention; v

Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof and showing the escapement, mechanism for controlling the mirror; Figure 3 is a plan view of the escapement control element;

Figure 4 is a section on theline 55 of Figure 4; and

Figure5 is a detailed plan view of a portion of the base showing the manner of shifting the base to permit disengagement of the rack and gear; I 3

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numerals and 11' indicate base supports in one of which is secured a pipe 12 having its outer end closed, as at 13, and its inner endcommunicating with a drum or cylind r 14. In the support 11, a

stationary conduit 15 is mounted, the inner end of which projects through a stuffing box 16 formed upon the end of-the drum. The drum is provided with a steam dome 17 having a. safety valve 18 and a steam outlet conduit 19. I

Rotatably mounted upon the pipe 12 and stufling box 16 arethe end members20 and mirror support 21 which is arcuately curve d with the axis of the drum 14 as a center. The inner face of this mirror supporthas secured thereto a multiplicity of mirror segments 22 all positioned to directirefleeted this character 1925; Serial No. 42,561.

rays against the drum 14. The outer surface of the mirror support has secured thereto a rack 23 extending from one longitundinal edge of the mirror support to the other thereof and at right angles to the axis of the support. Mounted beneath the mirror support is a base 24, one end of which is pivoted, as at 25, and the other end of which has means, as at 26, for locking the same in adjusted positions about the pivot. -Upon thisbase is mounted driving mechanism for maintaining the mirror face of the mirror sun.

This timing mechanism includes a, support 27'ar1s1ngfrom the base 24 and having at its upper ends diverging arms 28 and 29. Between the arms 28 is rotatablymounted a spring drum 30 having a coiled operating spring '31 arranged nterior-1y thereof and formed with a gear 32 upon its exterior anism including a rock shaft 35 rotatably mounted in supports 36 carried by the base 24. One end of this rock shaft projectsbeneath the gear 33 and is provided with an escape'ment head 37 having a single groove 38 formed therein and extending-at a slight angle to the axis ofthe shaft. .The opposite end of the shaft has secured thereto a pendulum 39, the upper end of which is provided with an extension 40 having an adjustable balance weight 41 thereon.

It will be understood that tendency torotation of the drum 30 under the influence of the spring will be transmitted thrcmgh the pinion 34 to-the gear 33. \Vhen the pendulum is shifted so that the outer end. 42 of the groove aligns with the teeth of the gear 33, a tooth will enter this groove and in support in alignment with the rays of the passing the groove will cause the rock shaft 1 to be shifted and the pendulum to move to one limit of its swing. As the tooth escapes from the inner end 43 of the groove, a second tooth of the gear comes in engagement ,with the end face 44 of theescapement head and rotation of the gear 33 is checked until of the pendulum and the outer end 42 of the the shaft 35 is rocked under the influence groove 38 again aligns with the gear teeth of the gear It will be obvious that the speed of oscillation of the pendulum will depend upon the position of the shifting weight 41 and accordingly this weight forms a governor for the timing mechanism. As the gear 83 is permitted to rotate, the drum 3O likewise rotates and its teeth 32 will transmit motion to the mirror support 21 through the rack 23, causing this mirror support to shift and maintain its proper position with relation to the sun. it the end of the days run, the mirror support may be shifted. into position for the next days run by releasing the member 26 to permit the base to be shifted until the gear '32 disen gages from the rack 23 and after the drum has been properly positioned, the gear may be re-engaged.

The apparatus is at present shown as operatively connected with a pump of the steam ejector type, the barrel 46 thereof receiving the steam inlet pipe 19 which is connected to the steam conduit 19 through a control valve 51. Where a pump is operated by the steam generated a portion of the discharge water may be withdrawn from the pump tubing 52, as at 53, and discharged to a storage tank 54:. This storage tank 5% may communicate with the drum 1a through a conduit 55 and injector 56 which may receive its steam from a valve-controlled branch 57 of the conduit 19. VVh'ile the moaeee except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim A steam generator comprising an arcuateiy curved solar mirror, a stationary drum having its axis located at the focal line of the mirror, pendulum controlled means for turning the mirror about the axis of the drum to maintain the face thereof toward the sun, spring means for actuating the pendulum controlled means and a mounting for said pendulum controlled means permitting adjustment thereof to engage or dis-' engage the mirror comprising a base upon which the pen-drdum means is mounted, a pirot engaging one end of the base and about which the base is sW-ingabie and a securing means for the base extending through an arcuate slot formed in theopposite end of thebase. I

in testimony whereof I hereunto my signature.

EMMEIT B. MAIUVELL. 

